Tamar Lakes Campsite

View prices & book 7 52 reviews
The lake (added by manager 23 Aug 2022)
Tent pitches
Non-electric pitches
View across lake from our pitch.

  • Lakeside site with sandy beach
  • Kayaking, canoeing, fishing, sailing, cycling and more all available
  • Short drive to the surfing beaches of Bude and Widemouth
There’s nothing to mar your enjoyment of the vista at this site near the pleasant seaside resort of Bude… pitches face out on the larger of the two lakes on site, Upper Tamar, and its sandy beach. And anglers will no doubt have some fishy tales to tell after a day out netting some of the bream, roach, rudd and huge carp stashed in the two lakes… Make the most of the views using foot, cycle, wind or paddle power, or wander around the large pathway circling Upper Tamar Lake, designed for wheelchair and pushchair use and suitable for walking and cycling. The trails continue into the woods and countryside beyond for those who are feeling energetic, or there are easier walks and good picnic spots to be found around Lower Tamar, which is a haven for wild birds (both lakes have a hide). Or one could get stuck into watery sports right on site: pedalos, Canadian canoes and dinghies are available for hire at a small charge, as are windsurfers and surf skis, although you can also bring your own boats and equipment too. Taster sessions, lessons and activity programmes for adults and kids run in the holiday season and most weekends from April to September at the watersports centre. Tamar Lakes Campsite has communal-style showers, a washing-up area, a chemical disposal point and recycling facilities. On the leisure front, there's also a playground, a tearoom selling souvenirs, and a café serving up light meals, cream teas and some rather moreish Cornish ice cream.

Site type

Lodges, cabins, pods or huts 1
Travel trailer sites 13
RV sites 13
Tent sites 13
Open now
Opens May 1
Please note
  • Facilities/activities including fishing, launching your own watersports/sailing equipment, watersports taster sessions are subject to extra charges payable on arrival.
  • The restaurant is open between 04/07 and 31/10.
  • Twin axle vehicles are not permitted on site.
  • Swimming in the lake is not allowed.

Languages spoken

English

Open from Wed, May 1 to

Pitch types & availability

Reviews

67%

would recommend this site to a friend

62%

would stay here again

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    10
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Only showing reviews for the last 30 months.

Simple site for families who like water sports/outdoors.

Overall 6/10
Location 8
Value for money 6
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 6
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 2
Tony E. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Powered grass tent, campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked: Location Nice, with walk around the lake. Went Sailing from site, good for water sports. Small site good for free range children. Good Cafe and playground on site.

Disliked: Whilst clean enough, toilet/showers pretty rudimentary. Minimal arrival information, effectively unstaffed out of hours. Looking a bit careworn, glad we didn’t book a hard standing pitch. Wasps!

Recommend to friends Visit again

A very enjoyable weekend with plenty to do.

Overall 10/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Matt W. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Powered grass tent, campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked: Location- beautiful views, scenery, wildlife and peaceful. Lake- Clean, picturesque, and fun. Walks- 5k around and then other easy walks available. Pitch sizes - big with spaces between. Water sports - Lots available and a good calm environment to learn.

Disliked: Facilities block - Clean but a bit dated. Closest shop was a drive away.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Very quiet, great view…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 10
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Jez M. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked: Very quiet, great view

Recommend to friends Visit again

We stayed when it was very quiet. Liked the closeness to all…

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 8
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 10
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 8
Wifi No rating
Joanna T. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked: We stayed when it was very quiet. Liked the closeness to all facilities. Cafe was excellent. Showers etc very clean. We had a level pitch with a view of the lake which had some good bird watching and huge fish. The staff we met were very kind and friendly

Disliked: Nothing really. Maybe be nicer to have some privacy in the shower areas. They are like school ones. Undress in communal area before using showers.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Beautiful location

Overall 6/10
Location 10
Value for money 8
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 6
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 10
Wifi 2
Deborah S. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked: Good communication of shower codes. Shower area very clean. Beautiful location.

Disliked: Cafe was shut on the days we were staying. Luckily as it appeared there was just one other person staying on site we had a flat pitch, but most appeared to be on a slope. Lack of privacy in shower area. No staff to talk to.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Ok for one night

Overall 8/10
Location 8
Value for money 6
Accommodation 6
Facilities / Activities 8
Customer service 6
Child friendliness 10
Cleanliness 6
Wifi 8
Charles L. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Powered grass tent, campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked: Very quiet and picturesque. Very basic campsite. Great for a one nighter.

Disliked: Not much really. If you want to paddle board expect to pay!! £12 to launch your own and then they want proof of insurance else you will be paying for that too! Luckily we have it. And we think they let animals graze around the lake because there is S$&@ everywhere 🤷🏻 you would think where people walk round bare foot they would fence off. Toilets very basic.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Run down site, untidy, unkempt, and far too expensive for backpackers

Overall 2/10
Location 8
Value for money 2
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked: Location close to the Tamara Way

Disliked: No staff on site. Communal showers. No laundry facilities. Cost of pitches. Condition of maintenance. No phone charging facilities.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Simple, quiet peaceful campsite!

Overall 8/10
Location 10
Value for money 10
Accommodation 10
Facilities / Activities 10
Customer service 8
Child friendliness 8
Cleanliness 8
Wifi 2
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Powered grass tent, campervan or trailer tent campsite

Liked: The quiet setting of the campsite. Felt very odd-grid. Facilities were outdated but fitting for the area and worked perfectly fine.

Disliked: The campsite is unmanned and the difficult to get in touch with someone in the evening so ensure you have your pitch and facilities information before you arrive.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Will not reccomend. Public toilets as facilities!

Overall 2/10
Location No rating
Value for money No rating
Accommodation No rating
Facilities / Activities No rating
Customer service No rating
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness No rating
Wifi No rating
Anonymous The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked: Nothing, turned around as soon as pulled up.

Disliked: Did not stay pulled up seen the state of the grass which was not maintained at all!! so called pitches and not knowing which one was ours and only 1 tent pitched we turned around and requested a refund via email of which we have not yet received even a response from. Facilities were in fact public toilets!! Cannot be called a camp site this is more like a wild camping site.

Recommend to friends Visit again

Never visit this site again

Overall 2/10
Location 10
Value for money 2
Accommodation 2
Facilities / Activities 2
Customer service 2
Child friendliness No rating
Cleanliness 2
Wifi 2
Justin O. The reviewer booked through Pitchup.com

Primitive grass tent or RV campsite

Liked: View was fantastic

Disliked: Nobody on-site throughout the entire time. Had to phone on call manager to gather info for codes for washrooms. No idea where to park or any guidance apart from ‘park where you want’ from the on call manager. £21 a night for no assistance

Recommend to friends Visit again


Features

Leisure on park

Bar or club house Cycle hire Evening entertainment Fishing Fitness centre Indoor swimming pool Kids' club On-site restaurant/cafe Outdoor swimming pool Playground Recreation room/arcade TV room Takeout Tennis Watersports

Amenities on park

Bath available Car parking by site/unit Composting toilet Dog park Drying room Free wifi Grocery store Ice pack freezing Internet access Laundromat Parent & baby washroom Payphone Pick-up from public transport Portable toilet Pub toilets Restrooms Shower available Washing-up area Wifi

Groups welcome

Family friendly Motorcycle friendly Scouts welcome Single-sex groups welcome Student groups welcome

Rules

Barbecue grills allowed Barbecue provided Campfires allowed Commercial vehicles allowed Dogs allowed Dogs allowed all year

Themes

Lake and/or mountain Peaceful Remote location Spectacular scenery Wildlife haven

Utilities

Charging facilities Dump station Electric car charging point(s) Propane/gas cylinders available Recycling available Renewable energy

Nearby amenities

Bar nearby Dog walk nearby

Type

Small (11-25 sites)

Accessibility

Disabled facilities

Nearby leisure

Canoeing/kayaking nearby Climbing nearby Cycle hire nearby Cycling nearby Fishing nearby Golf nearby Horseback riding nearby Indoor pool nearby Outdoor pool nearby Sailing nearby Surf school nearby Tennis nearby Watersports nearby

Location

Tamar Lakes Campsite

Upper Tamar Lake Country Park

Bude

Cornwall

England

EX23 9SB

Directions

Timezone

Europe/London +0100 (GMT+01:00)

GPS

50.87925°N
-4.43561°W

Nearest transport

Coach
9.5 km The Strand
22.5 km Bideford Quay
22.5 km Bideford Quay
Rail
32.7 km Chapelton (Devon) Rail Station
34 km Barnstaple Rail Station
34.4 km Umberleigh Rail Station
Ferry
22.5 km Bideford Ferry Landing
26 km Appledore Ferry Landing
26.1 km Instow Ferry Landing

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Local attractions

Attractive Bude has lots to offer and is surrounded by ancient villages such as Poughill and Kilkhampton. North of this area is the Hartland peninsula, home to the precariously perched, carfree cobbled streets of Clovelly. To the south, a tour of Tintagel Castle followed by a visit to the pretty fishing village of Boscastle is a top option for a day out. Or make the short trip inland to Launceston for a journey on the steam railway.

Water quality at nearby bathing waters

Name Distance Type 2020 2019 2018 2017
Sandymouth 8.7 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent
Northcott Mouth 9.2 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent N/A
Crooklets 9.6 km Sea N/A Excellent Good Good
Summerleaze 9.8 km Sea N/A Excellent Good Good
Widemouth Sand 12.9 km Sea N/A Excellent Excellent Excellent

Data source: European Environment Agency

Must see

RHS Garden Rosemoor 22.1 km

Tintagel Castle 32.8 km

National Trust

Lawrence House 27.3 km

Tintagel Old Post Office 32.8 km

Lydford Gorge 34.9 km

Lundy 35.4 km

Finch Foundry 39.4 km

Cycle routes

Find local routes on the National Cycle Network - over 12,000 miles of cycling routes.

Other

Battle of Stratton, 1643 7.6 km

Poughill - Bude - Northcott Mouth 7.7 km

Duckpool - Stanbury Mouth - Woodford - Combe Valley 8.5 km

Morwenstow - Hawker's Coast 8.9 km

Bude to Sandymouth 9.6 km

Please note: All distances on this page are calculated "as the crow flies" - please check actual distance depending on your mode of travel using the Get directions button above.

Nearest sites

Unfortunately, we have no nearby bookable sites.

Want to know more about camping in Cornwall?

Frequently asked questions

  • Does Tamar Lakes Campsite have a swimming pool? No View all features
  • Is Tamar Lakes Campsite dog friendly? Yes View all features
  • What attractions are near Tamar Lakes Campsite? Attractive Bude has lots to offer and is surrounded by ancient villages such as Poughill and Kilkhampton. North of this area is the Hartland peninsula, home to the precariously perched, carfree cobbled … Read more
  • When can I check in and check out of Tamar Lakes Campsite?
    RV, travel trailer and tent sites
    Arrive:  2 p.m. –  Anytime
    Depart by:  11 a.m.

    This site is not manned 24 hours a day. Once you have placed your booking, a member of staff will email you the relevant permits and access codes to the site.

    Read more
  • How much does it cost to stay at Tamar Lakes Campsite? From $37.72 (for 1 night, 2 adults) - prices may change depending on your dates and party.